A pregnant fox was found in great distress and unable to deliver her five cubs in snowy Dublin earlier this week.

Wildlife volunteers sprang to action when word of the vixen-in-labour reached them just before midnight on Monday.

One of the unborn cubs was blocking the birth canal as the mother-to-be staggered in agony, dazed and confused, near Sandyford National School in the capital.

Kildare Animal Foundation Wildlife Unit received the call and began an emergency response to help the stricken creature.

Dan Donoher said two young veterinary nurses from Botanic Vets left their homes and opened the Glasnevin surgery to help the vixen.

He said: “On examination, the nurses, Amy and Laura, found a large cub obstructing the birth canal.

Adorable...two of the four fox cubs which survived

"The young vixen was given drugs to help her along. The cub that was blocking the way was born soon after and she was alive.”

He said the birth of the first cub gave the helpers great hope and four more cubs were subsequently delivered.

Sadly, the fifth was stillborn and frantic efforts to save the life of the “weak and exhausted” mother were sadly in vain.

Mr Donoher added: “The dedicated nurses battled to save her life, but she soon lost her fight. She had brought new life and new hope into the world. It is such a pity that she could not have lived to raise them.”

He said the “enormous and time-consuming task” has now begun to help the four tiny orphans – two females and two males – which need bottle-fed every two hours.

The Kildare sanctuary is now appealing for donations towards their care. Its PayPal account is kafwildlife@gmail.com.